What the garlic needs, in order to sprout, is the memory of winter. That the spring eventually comes is not enough to make life emerge—a good long cold is crucial. This memory of winter is called “vernalization.” Apples and peach trees won’t flower or fruit without it. Tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinth, often the first blooms of spring, need a good strong vernalization too. If you live in a warm climate and buy tulip bulbs, the garden supply store clerk might wisely advise you to put your bulbs in the refrigerator for a few weeks before planting, or you’ll never see a flower.
